BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1306, 8 December 1911, Page 6

BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES.

DR. A. K. NEWMAN. Dr. A. K. Newman (Wellington-East) ■was born in India in 1849, and arrived in New Zealand in 1853. He was educated privately in New Zealand and at Bath, England. On taking his uegree he was house Burgeon at Guy's Hospital. In 1875 he retnrned to New 7,<:ainnd, and entered mercantile life. Ho has been Mayor of Wellington, a member of the' Board of Governors of Wellington College, and president of tho old -Wellington A. and P. Association. Ho represented Thorndon in Parliamont from 1884 to 1890, Hutt 1890-93, and Suburbs from 1893 to 1698. l)r. Newman haa also been prominently connected with many branches of sport during the whole of his career. MR. H. I. SIMSON. Mr. H. I. Simson (Hawke's Bay) is a mombor of tho Hawke's Bay Comity Council, the Hawke's Bay Charitable- Aid Board, deputy-chairman of tho Hawke's Bay Central River Board, and a latt. member of the Napier Harbour Board. Hβ was also one of the founders of the present Hawke's Bay Ploughing Association, and is now their president. He is also president of the Hawke'a Bay Sv.-im-inins Club and tho Hawke's Bay Motor Cvcle Cub, and many other societies. Mr. Simson was born in Waikaia, Olago. in IS7I, and was educated at tho Gore Public School and privately. After being engaged in .various commercial pursuits be went to Haukc's Boy in 1902, and has been engaged in business there ever since.

MR. r C. • K. WILSON. Mr. C. K.'Wilson (Taumarunui) is an Australian by birth, and arrived in New Zealand at the age of 17. lie acquired an interest inland in Levin in ISSB, remained in that district until li) 09, and was West Coast manager of the firm of Abra--Imm and Williams for 18 years. During that tirao lie represented that district as a county councillor and a member of tho Wirokino Koad Board. He took an active part in the. formation. of the Farmers' Union, and was present at its first conference. Mr. Wilson has always taken a keen interest in farming, and now holds a block of land near To Kuiti. MR. ROBERT FLETCHER. Mr. Robert Fletcher is a man who haa risen from the ranks. Twenty years ago ho was a member of the permanent staff of tho Harbour Board as a cargo-worker. He graduated-from there to bo a store-man in tho employ of Joseph Nathan and Co., and aboiit ten years ago left that employ to go into business as carriers and grain merchant in partnership with Mr. Athol Bannister. Later tho grain department was dropped, and the business developed into a carrying one pure and simple. Mr. Fletcher was elected to the City Council in 1007, and has been returned at each election sinco, the. last .time- at tho .head of tho poll. Hβ has also been a member of the Harbour Board for four years past; was elected chairman in February last year, and re-elected again this year. He has played a prominent part in Freemasonry and Druidism in New Zealand. MR. W. H. D. BELL, Mr. W. H. D. Bell (Wellington Suburbs), Opposition candidate for the Suburbs, is a solicitor and son of Mr. H. D. Bell, K.C. Mr. Bell, junior, was educated in Mew Zealand and at Cambridge University, where he took his do gree. Hu returned to New Zealand a few years ago, and at once entered the firm of 'Bell, Gaily, Bell, and Myers. MR. J. H. ESCOTT. Mr. J. H. Escott (Pahiatua), farmer, Woodville, is one of tho East Coast's voung settlers. For years he has benn a prominent fi<vuT« in the New Zealand Farmers' Union, and has rarely missed one of its conferences. Ho stands in the Opposition interest, and is very popular with tho farmeia in his district. MR. H. ATMORE. Mr. H.' Atmoro (Nelson) waa born in Nelson in 1870, and is the son of an old colonist who arrived by tho ship • Oreswell. He was educated at the Nelson Public School, and after a residence of eight years in Wellington he roturued to Nelson and set up in business on his own account. ■ In tho past he has been associated with various athletic bodies, and has represented the province in interprovincial football. Ho was elected a member of the Nelson Licensing Committee in 1903, and is a member of the Education Board. Ho unsuccessfully contested tho Nelson seat at the elections in 1902, 1903, jgOß—at the last election he was only beaten by tho small majority of 11 Totes. MR. F. F. HOCKLY, Mr.'F..F. Hockly is 46 years of age, having been born near Liverpool in 1865. He came to New Zealand on January 1, 1881, and. straightway engaged in farming—a pursuit which has occupied him up to the present. For many years he has been a member of the Kiwitea County Council, of which ho was chairman for some time, and has been a keen supporter of tho Farmers' Union since its inception. On sevoral occasions he has represented his branch" at the Wellington Provincial Conference, and in 1.908 represented Wellington at the Dominion Conference At the Rangitikei by-elec-tion in September, 1909, he first stood as a member of Parlianient. He headed tho first ballot by a majority of 193, but wae defeated on the second ballot. MR. 6EO. HUNTER. Mr. G. Hunter (Waipawa) is the eldest son of the late Mr. Goorge Hunter, who for many years represented Wellington City in tho Houso of Representatives. When 19 years old he and his brother took over the management of the Porangahau Estate, Hawko's Bay. Ho has been chairman of tho Porangahau Road Board for 26 years, and a member of tho Patongata County Conncil sine* its formation, with the exception of three years, when ho did not offer himself for re-election. Hβ is very well known in sporting circles, being chairman of the Hawkee Bay Jockey Club, and president of many of the county jacihg clubs.